• Title/Summary/Keyword: survey response

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Factors Influencing Workers' Perception and Attitude Toward Special Periodic Health Screening Test (특수건강진단에 대한 근로자의 인식과 태도에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Nam, Si-Hyun;Kam, Sin;Park, Jae-Yong
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.28 no.2 s.50
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    • pp.334-346
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    • 1995
  • To investigate the factors influencing workers' perception and attitude toward special periodic health screening test for workers, a survey with self-administered questionnaires was performed on 779 workers who had special periodic health screening test from September 1 to October 15, 1994. A study model was developed by modifying the health belief model. The end and intermediate response variables of the model were the voluntary participation and necessity perception on the special screening for workers. The result of analysis was consistent with the study model. Rates for the necessity perception and voluntary participation on the special screening for workers were 77.2%, 79.2%, respectively. Factors influencing on the voluntary participation were necessity perception, benefit of special screening for workers, and cue to action. And on the necessity perception were susceptibility and severity to occupational disease, knowledge to special screening for workers, and support of company. General and occupational characteristics influencing on the susceptibility and severity to occupational disease were sex, age, educational level, work duration, and health education. On the knowledge to special screening for workers were age, educational level, work duration, and locus-of-control. On the benefit of special screening for workers were age, locus-of-control, pride on health, and health education. Therefore, to increase the voluntary participation and necessity perception on the special periodic health screening for workers, 1) if a worker is judged as occupational disease, the judgment should be widely known in his workplace, 2) the screening result forms should be directly sent to the workers themselves, 3) for the positivity of employers, the campaign and education program subjected to them should be planned, 4) health education should give the first consideration to the younger, lower educational level, and newly employed women, and its frequency should be increased and it should be more frequently dealt with occupation-related subjects, and 5) the employers should have a careful concern in not being disadvantageous to workers due to result of screening.

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A Study on the Change of AIDS Knowledge and Sexual Behavior among Middle and High School Students through AIDS Prevention Education (중고등학생의 에이즈 예방교육(豫防敎育)을 통한 에이즈 지식(知識)과 성의식(性意識) 변화(變化)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kwon, Kwan-Woo;Lee, Kyoung-Mu;Kim, Joung-Soon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.109-129
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    • 1999
  • AIDS is worldwide problem. It has threatens societies and is potentially a big problem among youth. UNAIDS has warned that collective global responses are necessary; with half of the newly infected being children and young people in 1998, educating youth below age 24 is essential. Because of both their unexpected, strong sexual activities and an easjer tendency to change their behavior than adults, UNAIDS emphasizes the importance of prevention education for youth. In Korea, 4 cases of HIV infection have officially been reported among high school students. Considering the potential seriousness of HIV infection among youth, the Korean AntiAIDS Federation (KAAF) began an education programme for Korean youth (middle & high school pupils) as one intervention method in 1993. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the education programs performed and to develop a better programme. The intervention method used in this study was mainly a lecture in a big or small auditorium or through broadcasting systems using audio-visual teaching aids. The period of this survey was from Nov. 10 to Dec. 26. in 1998. The subjects surveyed were 792 pupils who were sampled from 12 different middle and high schools in Seoul by a two-stage cluster sampling. Self-recording the structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by using a paired t-test to compare the knowledge difference before and after the interrention method. A chi-square test to compare the consciousness difference between pre-post-education results was used, and an ANOVA was ased to compare the knowledge difference among the selected groups. Major results of this study are summarized as follows: (1) AIDS knowledge significantly changed after AIDS prevention education. (2) The direct lecture in a big or small auditorium is more effective than an indirect lecture through a broadcasting system or through audio-visual teaching aids. (3) Those who had not seen obscene materials (e.g. pornography films, magazines etc.) acguired much more knowledge than others after AIDS prevention education. (4) Those who had no girlfriend/or boyfriend acquired much more knowledge than the others after AIDS prevention education. (5) As to the attitudes toward chastity, more girls than boys and students who had not seen obscene materials rather than those who already had were liable to support the state ment: "all should remain chase" and their consciousness on "being chaste" changed much more than that of others after intervention. (6) As to the individual evaluation of lectures, 23.1% shows "very good", 44.1% "good", 26.9% "normar" '-' thus, the positive evaluation was to 94.2%. The negative response was 5.8%. (7) As to the desire for AIDS education sponsored by KAAF in the future, more than 90.5% showed a positive reaction. (8) As to the educators in future education methods, pupils wanted lecturers from outside their schood. (9) Students from vocational high schools have seen obscene materials much more than other groups and the percentage of those who had a girlfriend/or boyfriend was higher than that of the others as wello. (10) 90% of those who watched obscene materials responded that they experienced these materials while at middle school and 100% before reaching the second grade of high school. (11) The number of boys who have experienced obscene materials is twice as many as that of girls. (12) The percentage of boys who have a girlfriend is much higher than the percentage of girls who have a boyfriend. (13) Among those who have friends of the opposite sex, 11.1% say that they hare had sexual contact and 20.8% hare experienced kissing and caressing.

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Exploratory Correlation Analysis among Age Identity, Proximity of Clothing to Self, and Self-Actualization for Older Persons in the United States (미국 노년층의 의복의 자아 근접성, 나이 정체성, 자아실현 사이의 상호연관성 분석)

  • Lee, Young-A
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.33 no.12
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    • pp.1897-1909
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    • 2009
  • This large-scale research project contributes to the theory development in the importance of clothing to the self and in the way that older persons might age successfully by fulfilling the need for self-actualization by incorporating a primary resource environment, such as clothing into their self-system. This paper presents one research objective from a lager project that explores the correlations among the Proximity of Clothing to Self (PCS), age identity (subjective or perceived age), and self-actualization (the highest level of human needs). A mail survey design was applied to this study. In November 2004, two questionnaires, Clothing: A Resource for Successful Aging? (to measure PCS, age identity, and demographic variables) and Personal Orientation Inventory (to measure self-actualization), were sent to 1,700 older persons in the U.S. and 195 completed usable questionnaires were returned (12% response rate). This research discovered that the age identity of older persons did not relate with PCS except for those 85 years and over. There were negative correlations among subscales of PCS and self-actualization. This result can be interpreted as that an older person who has not met the highest level of needs yet, can use clothing as a facilitator or need satisfier to meet a higher level of Self-Actualization (SA). Correlation analyses also revealed that older persons in the age category of 75 to 84 years were different from those in the category of 65 to 74 years and 85 years and over. This result implies that older persons in this age category are undergoing more psychological transitions than those in other categories. Further research is necessary to explore the relationship of several SA subscales with various clothing variables such as clothing interest, clothing involvement, or clothing satisfaction.

A Study of Effectiveness of Outpatient Treatment Orders and Compliance with Outpatient Treatment (외래치료 명령제의 실효성과 외래 치료 순응도에 관한 연구)

  • Jang, Seung-Ho;Park, In-Hwan;Lee, Sang-Yeol;Roh, Suhee;Seo, Jeong-Seok
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.46-55
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    • 2017
  • Objectives : Outpatient treatment orders refer to a mandatory social program in which mentally ill persons are ordered by the court to participate in specified outpatient treatment programs. This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment in mental health patients. Methods : A survey on outpatient treatment orders and adherence to outpatient treatment was conducted on 60 psychiatrists between October and November 2016. The questionnaire items were drafted based on a literature review, and they were then evaluated by 3 psychiatrists and 1 law school professor before being finalized. Answers from the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the median, maximum, and minimum values of the effectiveness scores of outpatient treatment orders were calculated. Results : Among the 60 psychiatrists, 45(75.0%) were aware of outpatient treatment orders; however, only 2 out of the 45(4.0%) had actually used the program in the last 12 months. The subjective effectiveness was very low, with only 40 points out of 100. Furthermore, of the readmitted patients, 37.7% had received continued outpatient treatment, whereas 53.1% chose to quit the outpatient treatment programs, meaning that the number of dropouts was higher. Among the discharged patients, approximately two-thirds were receiving continued treatment. With regard to follow-up for dropouts, majority of the responses were either "Not taking any action"(n=27) or "Not following up"(n=15). Only two respondents answered "Contact the community mental health promotion center," meaning that this response was very rare. Meanwhile, when asked about efficient measures to be implemented for dropouts, a vast majority of the respondents(n=30) selected the answer "Work with the community mental health promotion center." Conclusions : The outpatient treatment orders currently being administered were found to be ineffective, and the associated adherence to outpatient treatment was also found to be extremely poor. Hence, the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions could benefit from institutional as well as administrative improvements. Community mental health promotion centers are expected to have an important role in the future.

Development of the Somatization Rating Scale (신체화 평가 척도의 개발)

  • Koh, Kyung-Bong;Park, Joong-Kyu
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.78-91
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    • 2002
  • Objective : The purpose of this study was to develop the somatization rating scale (SRS), and then to use the scale in clinical pracitice. Methods: First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 109 healthy adults to obtain 40 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding somatization responses among 242 patients (71 with anxiety disorder. 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects. Results : Factor analysis yielded 5 subscales : cardiorespiratory and nervous responses, somatic sensitivity, gastrointestinal responses, general somatic responses, genitourinary, eye and muscular responses. Reliability was computed by administering the SRS to 62 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 5 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging between .86-.94. Internal consistency was computed, and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ for 5 subscales ranged between .72-.92, and .95 for the total score. Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 5 subscales and the total score with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the total score and the 5 subscale scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found for 5 subscales and the total score. Only the depressive disorder group was siginificantly higher than control group in all the subscale scores and total scores of SRS among 4 patient groups. In somatic sensitivity, only depressive disorder patients were significantly higher than the normal controls, whereas in general somatic subscale, depressive disorder and somatoform disorder groups were significantly higher than the normal controls. In total scores of the SRS, female subjects were significantly higher than males. Conclusion : These results indicate that the SRS is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure for research in stress- and somatization-related fields. The depressive disorder and somatoform disorder groups showed more widespread somatization than the anxiety and psychosomatic disorder groups.

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Perceptions of Body Shape and Weight Control in Individuals Consuming Weight-Control or Functional Health Foods (체중조절용 조제식품과 다이어트 건강기능식품 섭취자의 체형 및 체중조절 인식에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Hyo-Jin;Won, Hye-Suk;Kwak, Jin-Sook;Kim, Mi-Kyung;Kwon, O-Ran
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.44 no.3
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    • pp.243-254
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    • 2011
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the general characteristics, body shape, and perceptions of weight control in individuals consuming functional health foods and weight-control foods. The survey was conducted between April 15 and June 17, 2010 among 199 (57 males and 142 females; age range, 25-45 years) in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, who experienced eating functional health foods or weight control foods during the past year (June 2009 to June 2010). The subjects were divided into a weight-control food group (89 adults) and a functional health food group (110 adults). The subjects were comprised of a high proportion of aged (average age, $34.2{\pm}5.9$ years), graduates (71.9%), and married (65.8%) individuals. In the weight control food group, gender, age, and educational background were similar and the ratios of service/technical employees, college students, and normal-weight individuals [body mass index (BMI), < 23] were high. BMI was significantly different by gender (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.001), and job type (p < 0.001). Self-perceived health status showed a higher response for "in good health" in the 35-44 year old group than that in the 25-34 year old group (p < 0.05). Male group satisfaction for body shape was significantly higher than that in the female group. The main reason for going on a diet was significantly different by gender (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.01). The main motives for dieting were "because I am not at an ideal weight" and "because of the social atmosphere and the attention of others " in men, but "can't wear the clothes I want" in women (p < 0.01). The most preferable product type related to the two groups was significantly different by job (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for questions about body shape perception and weight control. Consumers who had different general characteristics and used diet products perceived body shape and weight control differently. Additionally, no meaningful differences were observed when the results were categorized by product type, except job and BMI, but the distribution of consumer characteristics showed different tendencies. These results can be utilized as basic data for developing new diet products to help people control their weight more scientifically and appropriately in the future.

A survey on sex life behavior and factors of low back pain (요통환자들의 성생활 행태와 영향 요인 조사)

  • Nam, Chul-Hyun;Woo, Kwang-Seog
    • Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.31-49
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    • 2002
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate discomforts and sexual life and to identify the relation between the discomforts and sexual life with low back pain. The data were collected from March 2 through July 31, 2001. Four hundred forty-two questionnaires were returned (response rate=88.0%). Analysis of the data was done with SPSS PC+ and use descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA. regression. The statistics shows that over than 80% of the adults experienced lumbago at least one time in their life, and Back pain is known as one of the most common complaints made by the patients of all ages in the general hospital or local medical clinics throughout. However, in certain case it leads to a chronic condition which can cause a great deal of problems in management and in financial burden to individuals and society. The result of this study was summarized as follows: 1) It appeared that regarding the distribution of gender, male was the higher(63.6%) then that of female, the portion of forties was 28.5%. Sitting for long time was 23.1% in men and 21.7% in women. Unknown reason including sexual behaviour was 12.9% in men and 15.5% in women. Patients treated medicine and physical therapy were 36.4%. In level of educational background, the rate of high school was 31.0%, technical college was 28.5%. The highest proportion by occupation was 18.3% of office workers, occupation posture was 41.9% of sitting. 2) Men(26.0%) and most of women(34.8%) were not satisfied in the explanation satisfaction rate of sex life concerned disease. 23.8% in men and 23.6% in women considered flexibility of waist good. Man(33.3%) and most of woman(35.0%) considered that Health education is necessary. 32.7% in men and 27.3% in women did't mind educator is whoever. Preventing of lower back pain(LBP) and proper Health education of sex life are demanded in daily life. 3) 58.0% of man and 64.0% of woman mostly had a posture which is man over woman. 28.5% in men and 27.8% in women considered that proper information finding of LBP and sex life was very few and few. 37.7% in men and 42.7% in women have acquired information about sex life flung their friends. 4) The number of sex life was decreased from 2.96 0.98 to 2.61 1.63 and also the time of sex life was decreased from 3.65 1.89 to 226 1.64. The satisfaction rate of sex life changed from 3.60 0.86 to 2.77 1.10. In the number of sex life, The non correct group was 2.62 1.91 and the correct group was higher in 2.68 1.65. In the time of sex life, The non correct group was 2.02 1.47 and the correct group was higher in 229 1.65. The satisfaction rate of sex life was 2.76 0.86 in non correct group and 2.88 1.10 in correct group. So there was a difference. 5) In the satisfaction rate of sex life, Men who have a lower back pain were higher than women and no attack group was higher than attack group. As they had many sex life, the satisfaction rate was higher significantly in statistics. As the time of sex life was short, the satisfaction rate was lower significantly in statistics. As the age was low, the demand rate of Health education was high and as means of patient who had a lower back pain was high, the demand rate of Health education was high. As the patient who had a lower back pain had a long married life, the demand rate of Health education was high and as education level was high, the demand rate of Health education was high. It is necessary to provide patients with conservative treatment, educational teaching, and training to prevent further injuries in the future. In general, it is important to educate the public how to prevent back injuries and how to treat themselves in an onset period to prevent further injuries sliding into a chronic state. Sexuality is an integral part of normal and healthy relationships, but patients are unable to enjoy sex because they are riot able to get into a comfortable position due to back pain. Many conditions of the spine can make certain positions uncomfortable. Health educator should make the education program of the discomforts and the sexual pattern for low back pain in workplace and/or hospital. Further study Is needed on how to integrate the educational program on sexuality into the total rehabilitation program.

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Analysis of doctors' cognition of patient safety at general hospitals (일개 상급종합병원 의사들의 환자안전문화에 대한 인식 분석)

  • Yu, Eun-Yeong;Jung, Sang-Jin
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.2607-2616
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    • 2012
  • This study was designed to figure out patient safety culture of medical institutions and try to utilize the study results as basic data for analyzing doctor's awareness of patient safety culture. To this end, questionnaire survey was conducted from August 1st to September 5th, 2011, targeting doctors working at senior general hospitals located in G city, and 194 questionnaires were utilized for final analysis. The research results are as follows. First, there was a difference in awareness of deployment of staffs depending on gender, age, term of service in the hospital, contact with patients and working hours per week in relationship between subjects, wards and hospital safety culture, and organizational learning and teamwork in the ward turned out to be significant in accordance with working hours per week, and all sub-areas of the ward safety culture by departments. Second, feedback about the malpractice, communication, report on malpractice frequency and overall safety awareness were found to be significant by departments in relationship of subjects, medical incident reporting system, patient safety evaluation and overall level of consciousness, and the overall safety awareness showed significant results according to contact with patients and working hours per week. Third, there was a positive corelation in sub-areas of the ward and hospital safety culture awareness, overall recognition and patient safety evaluation, and a positive corelation with medical incident reporting system was found in all areas except for attitude of managers/immediate supervisors and that of hospital executives. Fourth, sub-areas of patient safety culture which has a effect on patient safety showed significant results in organizational learning, openness of communication, overall safety awareness, systematic cooperation between departments, feedback/communication and non-punitive response. In conclusion, to increase the level of the ward and hospital patient safety culture of doctors and implement medical incident reporting system faithfully, it is necessary to activate teamwork through organizational learning in the ward based on the adequate staffing and working hours, promote open communication between departments and provide feedback on medical malpractice, thereby establishing a cooperative system by departments and active support of hospital executives for patient safet.

A Survey of the Image Conveyed by Different Types of Nurses따 Uniforms (간호사의 복장 형태에 따른 간호사 이미지에 대한 조사 연구)

  • 김조자;이원희;허혜경;김창희;홍성경
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.631-648
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    • 1993
  • This study is a descriptive study to provide basic data related to types of uniforms worn by nurses. Nurses, other medical center personnel, patients and their famillies were asked for their opinion on changing nurses’ uniforms and how the image of nurses is 1 elated to the type of uniform worn by the nurses. The data for this study were collected during the period from Feb. 25, 1993 to Mar. 26, 1993 at Y-University Medical Center from 132 nurses, 137 other medical center personnel, 117 patients and their families. The instruments used for this study were the Nurses’ Image Scale(NIS) developed by Bown(1986), and an instrument to measure opinions of uniform and cap using photographs of nurses’ uniforms that was developed by the researcher through a literture review. Data were analyzed using the SPPS / PC package, Statistics used for analysis were frequencies, percentages, paired t -test, and oneway ANOVA The results of this study are summarized as follows ; 1. Of the nurses, 84.3%, along with, 51.5% of the medical center personnel, 39.1% of the patients and their families agreed to a change in the color of nurses uniforms. 2. Similarly, 87.4% of the nurses,27.7% of the medical center personnel, 19.3% of the patients and their families were in favor of nurses not wearing caps. 3. Only 11.8% of nurses answered that a white uniform was important to the professional image of nursing. Only 2.4% of the nurses answered that a cap was very important to the professional image of nursing. 4. Only 1.6% of the nurses answered that a white uniform and cap were important to show the role of nurses in the twenty first century. 5. About 1/3, 36.5%, of the medical center personnel, the patient and their families answered that changing the color of the nurses' uniform will make a change in the image of nurses. 6. A White uniform and cap were seen as being im-portant in distinguishing nurses from other medical personnel in the hospital by 76.5% of the medical personnel, the patients and their families. 7. Nurses gave high marks to the idea of no cap regardless of the color of the uniform which would still portray the symbol of the nurses’ role, identity and would differentiate the role from other jobs. The patients and their families gave high marks to a white uniform with cap. 8. Generally, nurses, medical center personnel and patients and their families thought that a colored uniform with cap presented a good image of nurses. 9. There was a significant difference in the response among the three groups(F=24.65, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with a cap, and the patients and their families thought it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. There was a significant difference among the three groups(F=9.03, P〈.001) to the figure in a white uniform with no cap and the nurses indicated that it was the beat portrayed of the image of nurses. There was no significant difference among the three groups to the figure in a colored uniform with cap. There was a significant difference(F=17.50, P〈. 001) to the figure in a colored uniform with no cap, and the nurses indicated that it was the best portrayal of the image of nurses. In summary, the nurses wanted to change the color of uniform and not to wear a cap. But many of the medical center personnel, patients and their families indicated they did not agree with this idea. Therefore, changing the type of uniform worn by nurses should be done only after consideration has been given to the relation of the change to the professional role of nurses and the image of nurses held people in general. Suggestions arising from this study are as follows : 1. The relation between the role of nurses and their uniform was surveyed, and these results can be used as data when considering a change in uniforms. 2. A change in uniforms should be tried based on the norm established about uniforms. 3. The nurses did not want to wear a cap, but before a decision is definitely made it is necessary to study the philosophy related to the symbol of the cap because the figure of a nurse with a cap portrayed a positive image of the nurses. If the cap is kept, the symbol of the cap should be redefined. 4. In this study, only the image related to the uniform was examined, but in future studies it will be necessary to examine the practicality of various types of uniforms.

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Measuring the Third-Person Effects of Public Opinion Polls: Focusing On Online Polls (여론조사보도에 대한 제3자효과 검증: 온라인 여론조사를 주목하며)

  • Kim, Sung-Tae;Willnat, Las;Weaver, David
    • Korean journal of communication and information
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    • v.32
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    • pp.49-73
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    • 2006
  • During the past decades, public opinion polls have become an ubiquitous tool for probing the complexity of people's beliefs and attitudes on a wide variety of issues. Especially since the late 1970s, the use of polls by news organizations has increased dramatically. Along with the proliferation of traditional polls, in the past few years pollsters and news organizations have come to recognize the advantages of online polls. Increasingly there has been more effort to take the pulse of the public through the Internet. With the Internet's rapid growth during the past years, advocates of online polling often emphasize the relative advantages over traditional polls. Researchers from Harris Black International Ltd., for example, argue that "Internet polling is less expensive and faster and offers higher response rates than telephone surveys." Moreover, since many of the newer online polls draw respondents from large databases of registered Internet users, results of online polls have become more balanced. A series of Harris Black online polls conducted during the 1998 gubernatorial and senatorial elections, for example, has accurately projected the winners in 21 of the 22 races it tracked. Many researchers, however, severely criticize online polls for not being representative of the larger population. Despite the often enormous number of participants, Internet users who participate in online polls tend to be younger, better educated and more affluent than the general population. As Traugott pointed out, the people polled in Internet surveys are a "self selected" group, and thus "have volunteered to be part of the test sample, which could mean they are more comfortable with technology, more informed about news and events ... than Americans who aren't online." The fact that users of online polls are self selected and demographically very different from Americans who have no access to the Internet is likely to influence the estimates of what the majority of people think about social or political issues. One of the goals of this study is therefore to analyze whether people perceive traditional and online public opinion polls differently. While most people might not differentiate sufficiently between traditional random sample polls and non representative online polls, some audiences might perceive online polls as more useful and representative. Since most online polls allow some form of direct participation, mostly in the form of an instant vote by mouse click, and often present their findings based on huge numbers of respondents, consumers of these polls might perceive them as more accurate, representative or reliable than traditional random sample polls. If that is true, perceptions of public opinion in society could be significantly distorted for those who rely on or participate in online polls. In addition to investigating how people perceive random sample and online polls, this study focuses on the perceived impact of public opinion polls. Similar to these past studies, which focused on how public opinion polls can influence the perception of mass opinion, this study will analyze how people perceive the effects of polls on themselves and other people. This interest springs from prior studies of the "third person effect," which have found that people often tend to perceive that persuasive communications exert a stronger influence on others than on themselves. While most studies concerned with the political effects of public opinion polls show that exit polls and early reporting of election returns have only weak or no effects on the outcome of election campaigns, some empirical findings suggest that exposure to polls can move people's opinions both toward and away from perceived majority opinion. Thus, if people indeed believe that polls influence others more than themselves, perceptions of majority opinion could be significantly altered because people might anticipate that others will react more strongly to poll results.

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